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Rethinking medical marijuana Spring Valley reconsiders By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley City Council has thought twice about the idea of allowing a medical marijuana cultivation site into the city. At first thought, most aldermen were against the idea.
“Let someone else have it,” Alderman Tom Nesti stated at a previous meeting. But after hearing from a drug task force officer about Illinois’ strident regulations on the growing facilities, the job opportunities it could bring to the Illinois Valley and the new revenue it would generate for the city, the talk
has gotten most aldermen leaning in favor of the topic. On Monday, the task force officer explained how competitive the market is to be selected as the location for the cultivation site. Only one cultivation center will be allowed in each Illinois State Police (ISP) Districts. Spring Valley is in ISP District 17, which covers Bureau, LaSalle and Putnam counties.
Alderman Jack Narczewski said it seems like the city of Peru has the lead on being selected as the site, but the task force officer couldn’t say for certain if that was true. “It’s becoming very competitive, and it seems like everyone wants to up the ante a little bit,” the officer said. “Everything is going to fall into the licensing from the state’s side of things, but anything a
city does to enhance their application, I think, gets the upper hand.” To get the ball rolling in Spring Valley, the planning commission, which meets on Aug. 6, will have to make a recommendation for the council on whether or not to amend the land development code to meet the zoning requirements for the cultivation site. Upon the recommendation, the
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By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
Princeton Page 4
Spring Valley Page 2
BV talks evaluations, student growth
Princeton discusses antiquated voice mail/night service system
PRINCETON — Voice mail problems, ambulance fees and weeds were on the minds of Princeton City Council members at Monday’s council meeting at Princeton City Hall. Princeton City Manager Jeff Clawson asked for residents’ patience as the city hall/fire department voice mail and night service system is not currently working. People are taking messages by hand, but for people who call after hours, there is no voice mail. The phone system is more than 20 years old, and there is some trouble finding parts for the system. Hopefully, the system will be repaired within the next few weeks, Clawson said Tuesday. With all of the technology changes, he wants to make sure the city positions itself to advance as funds allow. The after hour/voice mail system does not affect emergency phone call system, he said. Also at Monday’s meeting, Clawson told the council a proposed ambulance billing ordinance will be presented at the council’s next meeting. The ordinance will address some of the changes discussed earlier this year at budget time. For instance, the ordinance will include a new refusal charge, which is something other departments already have in place in other communities.
council will vote on an ordinance to amend the city’s zoning. If approved, the city will submit an application to endorse becoming a possible site. On Tuesday, Marini confirmed most aldermen are now in favor of the cultivation site, but there is still at least one alderman who is against the idea.
BCR photo/Donna Barker
Three crowns up for grabs Contestants are ready and eager for the upcoming Miss Bureau County Fair Queen Pageant, set for Aug. 3 at Princeton High School. Ladies and little ladies will be competing for the crowns of Little Miss Bureau County Fair queen, Junior Miss Bureau County Fair queen and Miss Bureau County Fair queen. Watch upcoming editions of the Bureau County Republican to see the contestants hoping for a chance to wear the crown.
MANLIUS — The Bureau Valley School Board heard from the district’s three principals on Tuesday, who spoke briefly about the importance of teacher evaluations and how they have evolved in the last year. The board approved recommendations made by the joint committee on the evaluation documents on Tuesday. Bureau Valley South Principal Kristal LeRette said the committee’s work is very positive and is going in the right direction. “There’s great communication. I’m just very pleased with the teachers and administrators who are working together on the project,” she said. Bureau Valley North Principal Sandra Beitsch explained how Bureau Valley is in a good place with the evaluations, as some surrounding school districts have not yet adopted the project. “They don’t have to yet, but I think we’re ahead of the game and in a good position,” she said. She explained how teachers have had lots of input on changes made to the evaluations and how they have fine-tuned the language to provide a more efficient evaluation. The next step in the evaluation process is focusing on the student growth component.
Bureau Valley Page 4
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